Thursday, May 16

Individuality is something desired by many, especially in
the United States. We want to be judged by our own choices and make our own
path. When someone else's choices negatively affect us we want to be disassociated
with that person. In Bound Together,
Chris Brauns wants to show that we are not isolated, but are bound together.

The phrase Chris uses throughout the book is the ‘principle
of the rope,’ meaning that we are tied to each other, or bound to each other.
He starts out by explaining how Adam’s sin binds us together. Because of Adam’s
sin, Chris writes, we have a corrupt nature and that the pain and suffering we
experience today was, “predicated on Adam’s failure in the garden.” Chris is
quick to point out though, that this is not the end, nor the only rope. We are
also bound together because of Christ.

Saturday, May 11

Ring by spring. That seemed to be the motto of the Christian
University I attended, and I saw this played out more than once. And it wasn’t
just that college. It seems that many churches, regardless of the denomination,
strongly push marriage, even to those who are not in a romantic relationship.
While the churches encouragement toward marriage can be good, it also has the
ability to be too forceful and Christians may feel pressured to marry earlier
than they otherwise might.

This idea is deconstructed in Altared by Eli and Claire (both pseudonyms). They are not saying
that marriage is bad, however they believe an unnecessary amount of focus in
put on marriage by the church. While marriage is good and is biblical, churches
sometimes make it feel like a commandment. Instead of encouraging singles to
practice discipleship and serving, the stereotypical ‘singles’ class feels like
dating prep class. Eli and Claire use the story of their relationship to
illustrate how this over emphasis on marriage hurt their relationship. They
also take time to look at what they find the Bible says about marriage, as well
as looking at other Christian writers say about marriage. All in all it reads
as part story and part devotional/bible study.